The Kei cars - or K-cars but actually keijidosha which means light car - sprouted after the Second World War as a means of encouraging local car manufacture.
Later, kei-cars (and vans, utes and sports cars) became popular because of their low fuel consumption, ease of parking and reduced licensing tax.
Government regulations restrict the car's size (3.4m) and engine displacement (660cc) but manufacturers have introduced advanced technologies including turbocharging, supercharging, intercoolers, hybrids, all-wheel drive and CVT gearboxes.
Suzuki Mr Wagon is Japan's most popular kei-car is also sold as the Nissan Moco under licence and in India as the Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo, since renamed thankfully as just the Maruti Estilo.
Engine: 44kW 657cc 3-cyl turbo
Length: 3395mm
Weight: 900kg
Seats: 4
Subaru Stella is based on Subaru's R2, Stella is a five-door hatchback and is the company's answer to the highly popular Suzuki Wagon R and Daihatsu Move. Toyota rebadges it for its range. Stella isn't named after the Streetcar Named Desire character, but is Italian for "star" which is Subaru's logo.
Engine: 45kW 658cc 4-cyl supercharged
Length: 3395mm
Weight: 930kg
Seats: 4
Daihatsu Move has sold 500,000 during its first three years of production. The Move is based on the Daihatsu Cuore platform but with a taller body. It also has bigger engine options (850cc and 1000cc) for export markets.
Engine: 47kW 660cc 3-cyl turbo
Length: 3395mm
Weight: 780kg
Seats: 4
Mitsubishi "i" is the first four-door for decades to have a rear-midship engine placement (it's under the rear seat) to improve safety and interior space without affecting vehicle length. When launched in 2006 it exceeded Mitsubishi's sales targets by 20 per cent and won 13 awards in its first year. It is the basis for the all-electric i-MiEV model.
Engine: 47kW 659cc 3-cyl turbo
Length: 3395mm
Weight: 900kg
Seats: 4
Tata Nano is India's version of the kei-car. It started selling in March 2009 for $US2500 and was billed as the world's cheapest new car. It's potential market is the world's biggest who are evolving from motorcycle-based transport. The price has crept up and demand is see-sawing but Tata now plans to export the car.
Engine: 25kW 624cc 2-cyl
Length: 3099mm
Weight: 600kg
Seats: 4
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